Wesley Schultz of The Lumineers is staying grounded about his band's double Grammy nominations this month.

"As musicians, you can't concern yourselves with awards and things that are out of your control," said the Ramsey native, guitarist and lead vocalist for the Denver-based acoustic folk and pop band, which was nominated for Best New Artist and Best Americana Album. "At the same time, it feels very fitting in wanting recognition for something you think is worth hearing. But there are so many just as talented or more talented people out there. [Being nominated] can be a bit arbitrary."

The Lumineers open for the Dave Matthews Band in Brooklyn on Friday and have two sold-out shows in Manhattan in February. Schultz said he's excited to open for Matthews, one of his major influences.

"I started out learning Dave Matthews songs when I was 16 taking guitar lessons at SG Music in Waldwick," Schultz said by phone. "Their songs are difficult, so it was a good challenge."

The Lumineers' self-titled debut album was released in April and has sold more than 500,000 copies. Sing and stomp-along hit single "Ho Hey" hit No. 4 on the Billboard charts and has sold more than 1 million copies. Schultz said the band, rounded out by drummer and fellow Ramsey native Jeremiah Fraites and cellist-mandolin player-pianist Neyla Pekarek, is not an overnight success, which has allowed The Lumineers to take their massive commercial breakout in stride. "We worked our way up and were able to grow and develop a sense of identity by the time we released the album," Schultz said.

The seeds of The Lumineers were planted by tragedy. Schultz, a 2001 graduate of Ramsey High School, was best friends with Josh Fraites, Jeremiah's older brother. Josh Fraites died of an overdose when he was 19. Schultz did not know Jeremiah Fraites well in high school, but the two became good friends and songwriting partners after Schultz returned to Ramsey from college.

"We didn't talk about [Josh's death] at the beginning," Schultz said. "We were just getting to know each other, personally and musically. But something that I really came to admire about him was that he was able to get through something of that magnitude at that age and stay positive."

The duo played the New York club circuit from 2005 to 2008 before heading to Denver. Schultz said he spent more time in New York working side jobs to pay his rent than he did writing music and performing.

"It used to be a mecca where people made art, but artists largely are now priced out of places like the city and Williamsburg," Schultz said. "I spent my time working on everything but music."

Schultz and Fraites knew nothing about the Denver music scene before heading west, only that the cost of living was more conducive to pursuing their craft.

"Like all great things, it just kind of happened," Schultz said. "A couple of friends were moving out there and were renting a place, and there was enough room for us and a practice space. When we arrived, we found it to be a great place with a great community of musicians."

Pekarek joined the band in Denver. The Lumineers continued to hone their sound and released a self-titled EP in 2011 before recording their full-length album.